CU Recommends : DJ Tonk

Artist : DJ Tonk

Album Title : Aquarian Soul
Styles : Organic Hip-Hop, Jazzy Hip-Hop

Label : Aquarian
Reference Code : AQA002
Released : 2002/09/13

Running Time : 53 Minutes 37 Seconds

REVIEW >>>

Tonk is a DJ that needs little introduction if you've ever considered yourself an "international hip-hop head" (in case you're new to Japanese hip-hop read the additional info from below this review). The man has always kept it real whether its was with his own ex crew Naked Artz or just remix works with the top hip-hop and r&b artists in the country. Aquarian Soul is Tonk's third album (available only in Japan) as a solo artist and a big step towards more "Tonkish" sound compared to his first releases.
Like before Tonk enlists the talents of old friends on this release from both US and Japan that gives the album some type of international compilation feel but it never feels like the artists are out of place. Tonk is a master of fresh organic loops that keep most of the beats sounding alive and breathing even putting some good chorus work to a shame on the albums better tracks. It's fresh, it's jazzy, it's funky, and it's Tonk who really comes through as the shining star of the 53+ minutes of underground rawness of this release.

The featuring artists are pretty familiar to those who have followed Tonk's career in the past few years and most of them on the album add something to the package and the only minus mark goes to Cocoa Brovaz for their recycled lyricism that doesn't seem to belong to this album. The highlights of the album such as Elevation, Lyrical Surgery and Midnight Tokyo best showcase Tonk's skills as a producer and could easily be nominated as one of the dopest beats created in 2002 even on a global scale. Aquarian Soul is a great album to start with for people who have yet to experience hip-hop from outside America because you get something from both worlds and more importantly you get to hear people of 2 nations united on 1 record.

Culture Universal recommends so go cop it but before you do, enjoy the samples!

Rating :

Words By : Jesse Viinikainen

ADDITIONAL INFO >>>

DJ Tonk earned his place in the elite producers from Japan in the mid 1990's when he worked as a DJ/Producer for his own group called Naked Artz. After his group split up in 1998 Tonk as well as the other members went on to have succesful solo careers in the underground scene of Tokyo, Japan. Tonk has also been paying his dues to the game as a hip-hop activist touring all over Asia and has produced tracks with many respected American artists such as Black Moon, Brand Nubian, Afu-Ra & Chops from Mountain Brothers.

TRACKLIST & SOUND SAMPLES >>>

01. 118Th feat. Dj Akibo
02. Elevated Mind feat. Pismo
03. Elevation feat. Mili & Word Swingaz
04. ひとこと feat. Keyco, IQ
05. Butterfly feat. Asiah, Bo Retta
06. Raw Basement feat. Chops, Zion I
07. Dyad feat. Rocket Science
08. Lower East Castle
09. Propと彼女とデモテープ feat. Mummy-D, Dj Akibo
10. To The Top feat. L RIO
11. 70%
12. No Game feat. Cocoa Brovaz
13. Aquarius
14. Lyrical Surgery feat. Afu-ra
15. Midnight Tokyo feat. Backgammon

Album Highlights are marked with this symbol

<< Back to Reviews

	Artist : DJ Tonk Album Title : Aquarian Soul Styles : Organic Hip-Hop, Jazzy Hip-Hop Label : Aquarian Reference Code : AQA002 Released : 2002/09/13 Running Time : 53 Minutes 37 Seconds
REVIEW >>> Tonk is a DJ that needs little introduction if you've ever considered yourself an "international hip-hop head" (in case you're new to Japanese hip-hop read the additional info from below this review). The man has always kept it real whether its was with his own ex crew Naked Artz or just remix works with the top hip-hop and r&b artists in the country. Aquarian Soul is Tonk's third album (available only in Japan) as a solo artist and a big step towards more "Tonkish" sound compared to his first releases. Like before Tonk enlists the talents of old friends on this release from both US and Japan that gives the album some type of international compilation feel but it never feels like the artists are out of place. Tonk is a master of fresh organic loops that keep most of the beats sounding alive and breathing even putting some good chorus work to a shame on the albums better tracks. It's fresh, it's jazzy, it's funky, and it's Tonk who really comes through as the shining star of the 53+ minutes of underground rawness of this release. The featuring artists are pretty familiar to those who have followed Tonk's career in the past few years and most of them on the album add something to the package and the only minus mark goes to Cocoa Brovaz for their recycled lyricism that doesn't seem to belong to this album. The highlights of the album such as Elevation, Lyrical Surgery and Midnight Tokyo best showcase Tonk's skills as a producer and could easily be nominated as one of the dopest beats created in 2002 even on a global scale. Aquarian Soul is a great album to start with for people who have yet to experience hip-hop from outside America because you get something from both worlds and more importantly you get to hear people of 2 nations united on 1 record. Culture Universal recommends so go cop it but before you do, enjoy the samples! Rating : Words By : Jesse Viinikainen
ADDITIONAL INFO >>> DJ Tonk earned his place in the elite producers from Japan in the mid 1990's when he worked as a DJ/Producer for his own group called Naked Artz. After his group split up in 1998 Tonk as well as the other members went on to have succesful solo careers in the underground scene of Tokyo, Japan. Tonk has also been paying his dues to the game as a hip-hop activist touring all over Asia and has produced tracks with many respected American artists such as Black Moon, Brand Nubian, Afu-Ra & Chops from Mountain Brothers.
TRACKLIST & SOUND SAMPLES >>> 01. 118Th feat. Dj Akibo 02. Elevated Mind feat. Pismo 03. Elevation feat. Mili & Word Swingaz 04. ひとこと feat. Keyco, IQ 05. Butterfly feat. Asiah, Bo Retta 06. Raw Basement feat. Chops, Zion I 07. Dyad feat. Rocket Science 08. Lower East Castle 09. Propと彼女とデモテープ feat. Mummy-D, Dj Akibo 10. To The Top feat. L RIO 11. 70% 12. No Game feat. Cocoa Brovaz 13. Aquarius 14. Lyrical Surgery feat. Afu-ra 15. Midnight Tokyo feat. Backgammon Album Highlights are marked with this symbol